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PROTECTING AGAINST IDENTITY THEFTYour personal identity information may allow an unscrupulous person to open unauthorized charge accounts, or order goods and services and bill them to you without your permission. They may even access your personal or business accounts for withdrawals or purchases, to secure loans, to hide illegal funds, or to remain secluded from lawenforcement or gain employment by circumventing criminal background checks. Each of us has personal information worth stealing, and our exposure can be great; however, we can minimize our risk by knowing how to prevent and respond to identity theft.

HOW CAN SOMEONE GET MY INFORMATION?Your personal identity information is used to process practically every non-cash transaction: ATM machines, bills and receipts thrown in the trash, public records, unsecured mailboxes, stolen pocketbooks, internet transactions, phony notices and requests from governmental agencies, telephone solicitations, and marketing ploys promising prizes, personnel files, obituaries, listing your date of birth or drivers license number on your personal checks, and medical records, etc. The creativity of the criminal mind can be remarkable.

WHAT PERSONAL INFORMATION DO THEY WANT?

Social Security number

birth date

driver's license number

mother's maiden name

bank account or credit/debit card numbers

PIN numbers

log-on names/I.D.s

passwords

HOW CAN I PREVENT PEOPLE FROM GETTING MY PERSONAL INFORMATION? While no one is completely safe from identity theft, there are some simple measures that can be taken to help secure your personal information and guard against identity theft. If someone has stolen your information, catching it early is the key!

If asked to provide a phone number, give your work number instead of your home number

If you pay your bills by check, do NOT write the entire account number on your check – just write the last four digits of your account number. This way, anyone handling your check will not gain access to your account number or be able to connect it with your name

Photocopying both sides of your passport, ID, and all cards in your purse/wallet is a good idea. Keep the photocopy in a safe place. Do not keep this in your purse or car. The toll free number to report fraud is on the back of your cards. If they’re stolen, a photocopy will help you report fraud sooner

Always shred discarded credit card applications or other items received in the mail. These can contain special information or be submitted without your permission

Install a locked mailbox with a slot

Always instruct your credit card issuers and anyone else you purchase goods or services from that you do not wish them to share or sell your information with/to others

Review your credit reports at least once a year. Please see back panel for credit reporting agency information

Never give personal information to someone over the telephone. Always ask them for a physical location and get the full name of anyone you deal with

Don't place your mail in an open container: take it to the post office or neighborhood mailbox

Remove your name from marketing lists, surveys, etc. See telephone contacts on the back of this brochure

Create a log of all credit and personal information, including credit card numbers, customer service telephone numbers, and credit reporting agency contact information. Keep this information in a locked container for quick access in case of an emergency

Do not pre-print your driver's license number, Social Security number or phone number on your checks

Always check the reputation of any company you do business with on-line. Also look for a contact address located within the continental United States. It is much more difficult to retrieve funds or information transferred out of the country. Be cautious of any business that only has a P.O. Box for an address

Always shred your credit card receipts, ATM receipts and unretained bills. Never throw them away at the point of sale

Check all your billing statements and bank statements for unauthorized charges or withdrawals. If you don't receive a regular statement on time, contact your credit card company or bank immediately

Do not write account numbers on checks or envelopes

If your credit card company sends convenience checks, you may want to request that it stop and shred the unused ones

Conceal your hand when entering PINs of any kind into a public machine or telephone

If you are transacting business over the internet always print out and save the receipt and transaction information

Always make your internet purchases over a secure connection and make purchases by credit card

Never give out your log-on name or password to someone who asks you via e-mail or instant message

If any firm uses your Social Security number or other personal number as an account number, ask them to change it

Check Social Security statements for inaccuracies

Do not use your birthdate as your pin number

Ask for information protection policy statements from each business that has your personal information, including your doctors

Do not exchange personal information for prizes. They should be free ... no strings attached

Do not carry a list of PIN numbers in your purse or wallet

REMEMBER if it sounds too good to be true ... it is probably a scam

You may want to contact the Public Utility Commission of Texas and place yourself on the "Texas No Call List"

WHAT DO I DO IF MY INFORMATION HAS BEEN STOLEN?Please remember -never confront a criminal yourself. Contact your local law enforcement agency, give them all the information you have about the person who has stolen your information, and ask them to make a report.

Here are some other things you should do:

Get and keep a copy of the police report. You may need it for proof of the crime

For any credit card information that has been stolen, contact the fraud/security department of the creditor or financial institution and close that account

If these items are stolen notify:

Driver License stolen, notify DPS

Social Security Card stolen, notify the Social Security Administration

Check book or ATM - Debit card stolen, notify your bank

Credit Cards stolen, notify the issuing credit card company

File a report with your local law enforcement agency

Contact all three credit reporting agencies and place a fraud alert on your credit. You should do this by telephone as soon as possible and then follow up in writing. You may wish to send them an ID theft affidavit and copies of the police report. Make sure written communication is sent certified mail. See below for a list of credit reporting agencies

Send only copies of documents you have to the institutions you are contacting, unless an original is specifically required. Keep your originals in a safe place

Contact the Federal Trade Commission, which keeps a database of identity thefts. The Federal Trade Commission, the nation's consumer protection agency, collects complaints about companies, business practices, identity theft, and episodes of violence in the media. Click here to file a complaint with the FTC

If you do have to clean up fraudulent accounts on your credit, make sure that all communication is done in writing and sent by certified mail, return receipt requested

Keep a close eye on your bank account. There is a time limit for disputing fraudulent checks or withdrawals

Finally, keep a detailed log of all your contacts with authorities and financial institutions

HOW DO I CONTACT THESE INSTITUTIONS?Here is a list of contact information and resources you may wish to use:
Social Security Administration: Fraud Report: 800-269-0271
Order Statement: 800-772-1213 http://www.ssa.gov/

Federal Trade Commission: Oversees the credit bureaus and maintains a database of identity thefts
You may also obtain a copy of the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
202-382-4357http://www.ftc.gov/
Attorney General of Texas: 214-969-5310 https://www.oag.state.tx.us/